Rhode Island bans guns on school grounds, except with police

by The Associated Press

Photo: MGN Online

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The governor of Rhode Island and the state's commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education have announced a directive barring all guns from schools except those carried by law enforcement personnel.

The directive issued Wednesday by Commissioner Ken Wagner was in response to what he called "ambiguities and inconsistencies" in state law and different rules among school districts. While the law guarantees "that all students and educators have the right to attend and work in a school that is safe and secure," it also allows people with concealed-carry permits in schools.

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said Rhode Island was one of only a few of states that allowed non-law enforcement officials to carry concealed weapons into schools.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Patricia Morgan accused Raimondo of "waging war on the Constitution."